The Revived & Restored!!!

Ezekiel 37:1-10

I have a very vivid imagination, and I’m a bit of a sci-fi/fantasy geek - so the story of “Ezekiel and the Valley of Dry Bones” has always been a biblical story that has resonated with me, and been in my memory for a great many years (since I was a kid).

This story is found in Ezekiel 37:1-14, and is a spiritual and prophetic event involving the prophet Ezekiel and Yahweh’s promise to restore the nation of Israel back into their homeland (which occurred in 1948).

Yet, there are also truths within the story that can be directly applied to our own lives, and our own situations. In this Bible study we will unpack some of those truths. In particular, those found in verses 1-10 of Ezekiel 37.

Ezekiel 37:1-10 says…

Verse 1-3: “The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”

It is interesting to note that Ezekiel was already in the presence of God in this instance (see Ezekiel 36). God showed up and took Ezekiel into a deep spiritual experience. This should serve as a source of encouragement for us, that if we seek the presence of God - HE will engage with us in a deep and profound way. But we need to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit to speak into our lives, and to bring us to scriptures within the Word of God that speak into our situation.

God takes Ezekiel to a place of death and desolation - intentionally. This point must not be missed. Not only was this a place of death and desolation, but it had been for some time as the bones were very dry. If you have ever come across bones that are out in the wild and are years old, then they are dry and brittle and falling apart. This shows that death had reigned for a long time in that place.

Much like God intentionally enabled Job to experience death and desolation in his life - God brings Ezekiel to a place of death and desolation to prove a point. That point that Yahweh is making is an echo of what was spoken to Moses “I AM who I AM” - I know what I AM doing.

Sometimes God will bring us to a similar place in our own lives - not to punish us - but rather to show that HIS mercy, grace and authority is active in our lives. And sometimes the places of death and desolation have been a place that we have existed in emotionally, physically and spiritually for some time - which, at times are a direct result of our life choices or our reaction to events (generally negative and/or traumatic in nature) that we experience.

But, God isn’t finished with Ezekiel. In fact HE is just starting. And the same is for you and I - God isn’t finished with us even though we may find ourselves within a time of desolation. Which leads us into the following verses.

Verse 4-6: “Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”

God spoke to Ezekiel - and HE spoke purposefully, and specifically. God speaks directly to what Ezekiel is experiencing and seeing. Just as God speaks directly into the events in our own lives (if we are listening properly). God is not like the people and organisations in this world that will speak to you but not tell you the truth, nor will they actually speak life into your circumstances - which is actually what Yahweh does in this instance.

God speaks life, because HE is the source of life. HE speaks restoration, because HE is the God of restoration. HE speaks of revival because HE is the God of revival.

God is telling Ezekiel to speak into a seemingly impossible situation - to bring life where death ruled. We have situations in our lives where death has ruled for too long and we are comfortable there - even though we hate it. God wants to speak directly into that desolation. Be it mental health issues you may be facing, be it chronic illness and pain that you suffer through each and every day, be it lack in your life (finances, employment, spouse, family) - God wants to speak life into your life.

God gave Ezekiel the words to speak…pray that the Holy Spirit reveals to you what you need to speak into your own life.

But, we MUST be careful what we speak into our lives. So, what does the Bible have to say about speaking into your own life, or the lives of others. Here are a few verses that are informative and instructional for us to hold on to.

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Proverbs 21:23 “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.”

Psalm 52:2 “Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.”

What these verses show us is that the tongue (or your speech) has a powerful impact and influence on all aspects of your life - it affects your emotions and mental health, it influences your relationships, and in the end influences your physical and spiritual health. This means that we have the ability to influence our own lives in both positive and negative ways. Our own inner dialogue can bring us pain and darkness - or it can bring us life and freedom.

If you want to bring restoration (and love) back into a relationship - then speak life into it…not criticism, or with bitterness and resentment.

If you want to escape the darkness of your mind and soul - then speak life into it…not with the echoes of Satan’s lies about you.

The choice is yours. You can choose to speak life into your life and your circumstances (which is from God) or you can speak death and desolation (which is from Satan).

And why will God listen and act on the prayers, and your engagement with speaking life into what has died in your life - because “Then you shall know that I am the Lord” - it is for HIS glory that HE acts in our lives, not because we deserve it, or because HE has to - but because when HE does miracles in our lives it is to show others that HE is God and HE is in control of all things.

Verse 7-8: “So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.”

Ezekiel was obedient in speaking life over the dry bones. We need to be obedient in speaking truth and life into our own lives and the lives of those around us. And in that obedience God acts, and brings that revival of what was once dead.

Verse 9-10: “Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.”

These couple of verses are both deeply interesting and powerful. They are interesting because it involves a second level of speaking into the situation. Ezekiel has already spoken life into the dry bones, and God has acted by bringing them to life.

Yet, God wants Ezekiel to speak to them again. In part, he repeats a truncated version of what he has already spoken to them, but the key phrase in these verses is that they… “stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army”. God doesn’t just want us to be alive…he wants us to have purpose to our lives.

Our main role in this life is to be the salt and light to the world, where we live out and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are also called to be soldiers in the army of the Lord, where we wage war against the spiritual forces of darkness and evil (Ephesians 6:10-20).

I sincerely pray and hope that God shows you the areas of your life that are dead and desolate (no matter how hard and uncomfortable that might be). I also pray that God gives you the words to speak over your life and your circumstances. I also hope that you begin to speak life over your own life, even though it might be shrouded in pain and darkness at the moment. May HE bring peace and restoration to you and your circumstances, and may HIS glory be shown through HIS work in your life.